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It was a remarkable achievement for the 62 year-old, who lives in Gresford, Wrexham, with wife Joanne and their two daughters, because only an estimated 4% of start-ups reaching that milestone.

And the business looks set to continue its rise says Vaughan, who has three other children by a previous partner, with a flying start in the first quarter of this year putting it well on course to double yearly turnover to £2m.

Last year the company made the Wales Fast Growth 50 list – one of only seven firms in North Wales.

Vaughn Rawson of Rawson Digital (Image: Stacey Oliver Photography)

The original goal was to sell 1,000 machines by the end of 2017.

With 120 already sold in the first three months this year Rawson Digital, now based on the Wrexham Industrial Estate with 14 employees and another two support posts in the offing, is on target to surpass that mark.

Vaughn’s path to this burgeoning venture has taken many turns, but even at an early age he had a head for business.

“I was born in Singapore. My father was in the army, in the catering core, and so through to my early teens I lived in different countries including Malaysia and Germany,” he said.

“By the time I was 13, I had attended seven different schools before my family moved back to Wrexham when my father left the army. Wrexham was my mother Mildred’s home town. She was originally from Rhostyllen.

He then ran his own butcher’ shop on Dixons Drive, Chester, a franchise within the now defunct Kwik Save superstore chain.

At the time it was taking £800 a week, but Vaughan built its takings to £4,000 and opened a second shop in Whitchurch.

But a couple of big supermarkets opened in Chester which decimated trade and the shops closed.

He got his first sales job selling shop equipment and was approached by another company to sell copiers, a career lasting 25 years.

But by 2012, Vaughn was looking for a new job and friends suggested ‘why don’t you do it for yourself?’ and Rawson Digital was born.

Although officially the owner and managing director he sees himself foremost as a sales person who is part of the team, looking after the customers.

“I still do all the basics, make phone calls, keep in regular contact with customers to make sure we are ‘delivering what we promise’ which is the company’s mantra and something I stick very closely to,” said Vaughn, who praised the support of Joanne who also acts as his PA.

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“North Wales is extremely important for us and we can claim to be the largest independent Welsh photocopier business in the region.

“The logical step is for us to get a stronger foothold in the North West, and in particular Cheshire,” said Vaughn.

“We recently won the contract for Carden Park, the luxury hotel, golf course and spa just outside Chester, which was a terrific gain for us. Liverpool and Manchester are just on our doorstep and we do have some business there but it is relatively untapped which I would like to change.”

Vaughn Rawson of Rawson Digital (Image: Stacey Oliver Photography)

He added: “We like to run the business on trust, more than on a contract which has you tied up in knots. I think it is this honest, thoughtful approach backed up with years of experience and knowledge in the industry which helps us stand apart.”

Vaughan had this advice for any entrepreneurs looking to make start their own businesses.

“You have to be prepared to get stuck into everything and not try and shirk the more tedious jobs,” he said.

“When I first started, winning new business was paramount and so that had to be the focus during the hours from 9-5 when you can be talking to people.

“Anything outside of this prime focus had to be done outside of those hours.

“I would be up by 5.30-6 am writing proposals, putting together quotes, ordering kit and invoicing.

“Too many people, in my view, are not focused on the important things and are not prepared to put in the hours.”